86-yr-old loses ₹2.8 cr over 5 years to frauds

Frauds initially posed as agents of a govt-backed scheme, later claimed they were cops/govt officers probing dubious online transactions

- Vinay Dalvi

MUMBAI: A retired government servant and bhajan tutor from Malabar Hill lost ₹2.85 crore over a period of five years to cyber frauds who initially took money from him under the guise of a government-backed investment scheme and later extracted more money claiming they were government/police officers and were probing suspicious transactions undertaken by him.

The 86-year-old bhajan tutor transferred the money to the unidentified frauds via 98 online transactions between December 2019 and 2024-end, said police. The frauds initially communicated with him via his land phone, later sent forged letters in the name of the government departments/police. The letters, in hard copy, bore the logo, name and seal of concerned departments and were sent via reputed courier companies - both instances are rare in cases of cyber fraud, said police.

"The victim worked in a government department earlier. He lives in Malabar Hill with his sister now and takes Bhajan classes," said an officer from the cyber cell, where the FIR was registered on February 4.